Synopsis

Plot

The episode opens with Nicole coming home from a hard day's work and falling asleep on the couch next to Richard, who is busy watching television. Gumball comes home shortly after and tries to share stories about his day at school to his parents, but neither of them pay attention. Feeling neglected, Gumball storms off to his room and accidentally wakes up his mother in the process. Nicole apologizes to Gumball for not paying him much attention and promises that she will spend more time with him the next day.

At school the next morning, Gumball runs into Penny in the hallway. He asks her if she would like to come and see his new cartwheel trick after school, but she explains that she wants to attend cheerleader try-outs instead. After Gumball embarrasses himself in front of her, he opens his locker and finds his mother cramped inside.

Nicole explains to her sons that she followed them to school to give them more attention all week, a plan which they find humiliating. They soon encounter Tina Rex and her gang of bullies in the hallway, who make fun of Gumball and call him a baby. Disapproving of this, Nicole tells her son to respond to Tina's teasing by claiming that she only bullies people because of her own insecurities and shortcomings. This turns out to be correct as Tina runs away in embarrassment soon after, leaving Gumball unscathed.

Jamie admits that standing up to Tina was pretty cool, but reminds him that his mother will not always be there to protect him. In response to this, Nicole takes Gumball by the hand and reassures him that she will be there for him until for as long as she needs to, which her son does not approve of in the least and runs away from her, accidentally running into Principal Brown in the process.

Principal Brown ends up having his hair shed and subsequently grown back due to the collision, and gives Gumball eight hours of detention with Nicole's "help." The next day, Nicole continues to embarrass her son, going so far to "help" as to bathe him in the shower room and burp him like an infant during lunch.

During lunch, Nicole spots Penny and tries to help Gumball flirt with her by saying that he loves her and wants to take her out on a date, flattering Penny. Gumball, not willing to admit his feelings, slips up in a moment of panic and tells Penny that he never liked her and never will. The heartbroken Penny leaves in tears upon hearing this and Nicole gives Gumball one last tip and pushes him over the edge. Enraged, Gumball tells his mother to go home and that enough is enough—her constant meddling doing more harm than good.

On the way to her car, Nicole gets an urgent phone call from Gumball, who explains that he made a bad decision, and rushes back in the building to help him. Initially denying his mother knowledge of what he did, he eventually tells her his plan to try out for the cheerleading squad and win back Penny by beating her at her own game. Though unsure what she can do to help, Gumball then explains to Nicole that he needs her emotional support, so they go to the try-outs.

At the try-outs, Penny performs in front of Principal Brown and Mr. Small, but they are both unimpressed by her performance. She explains to them that she has been having emotional troubles lately, but they stand by their decision and explain that someone would have to be pretty terrible in order for her to make the team. Abruptly, Gumball bursts through the door and after an admittedly awful performance which scores a 'zero' by both judges, Penny is given a spot on the cheerleading team.

Failing his plan at winning over Penny, Gumball is held in his mother's arms while he cries about life being unfair. However, Penny is ecstatic and excitedly thanks Gumball for giving her a chance to be on the team. She assumes that this must mean that he truly does like her and he tearfully agrees.

Gumball is then carried by Nicole to the hall, where Darwin is massaging his cheeks. He starts smiling as soon as Nicole shows up. Then Gumball and Nicole walk away with Nicole telling Gumball that he will be her "Gummypuss" even when he is eighty. After they both leave, Darwin's face explodes due to all the excessive smiling he did over the course of the day.

Whenever Gumball's skirt would fall off or be lifted, he was wearing what appeared to be a red thong.

Continuity

Darwin's feet were censored in the showers, playing off how his shoes are the only articles of clothing he wears, despite them being plainly shown in some previous episodes. This is later stated by him in "The Dream."

This was the second episode in which Darwin's head explodes. The first one was "The Sock."

In the background it is revealed that Elmore Junior High's mascot is a duck, which contradicts earlier episodes that stated the mascot is a mustang. This would later be mentioned by a person in "The Name."

Goofs/Errors

When Gumball moves his head to get Richard's attention, Richard's head moved as if he was looking at Gumball.

In one scene, Nicole's skirt is colored white.

Gumball lost his whiskers at one side when he screamed at his parents.

When Gumball attempts a cartwheel for the first time, his tail and butt are visible on his pants, instead of his white button. The next scene also shows this.

When Gumball runs upstairs, a door is heard slamming, but when Nicole follows him, it is completely ajar.

After Gumball falls on his back, he gets back up but the only shoe on his foot had swapped places. After Mr. Small and Principal Brown exchange confusion, the mistake seems to have corrected itself.

Despite losing a shoe during his cheerleader routine, it can be seen on Gumball's foot when he does a split.

In this episode, Nicole thinks that the nerds are complimenting Gumball when actually making fun of him, but in "The Gi," she is the one who is mature and knows that people are making fun of him while her children think they are fans of his.

Gumball: [Throws soufflé] I also learned how to do a cartwheel. You guys wanna see? [Attempts a cartwheel]

Richard: Yeah, yeah. I'm very proud of you son. [Frantically tries to watch with Gumball in the way]

Gumball: [Realizes Richard isn't listening] I also crashed your car on the run from the police after I robbed a bank.

Richard: Uh huh, good for you.

[Gumball whistles as he walks, falls over and pretends to injure his leg]

Gumball: Ah! My leg! It's broken! I probably need to get it cut off! Ahaaa! And yet nobody cares. What do I have to do to get noticed in this house!?[Runs upstairs as Nicole wakes up alarmed and confused]

Nicole: What? Richard I think Gumball needs some attention. Maybe you should go and play catch-

Richard: Yeah, yeah. We're all very proud of you Nicole.

[Nicole sighs and walks up the stairs; scene changes to Gumball's bedroom, Nicole appears behind the door, enters the room and sits next to the upset Gumball who proceeds to move away until he falls off the bed]

Gumball: [Upset] What?

Nicole: Listen honey, I'm sorry you've not been getting enough attention lately. I'm going to make it up to you starting tomorrow.

Gumball: [Scoffs] Why not now!? [Sees Nicole asleep and snoring by his bed; he sighs]

Gumball's Difficult Relationships

[The next day at school, the bell rings as Gumball approaches Penny with Darwin behind him]

Nicole: [Gets out of the locker and dusts herself] Well you said you wanted more attention, so I followed you to school. But by the looks of it you need more than attention; you need serious help, little man.

Nicole's Time at Elmore Junior High

[Nicole, Gumball and Darwin are walking along the hall, Darwin has a huge grin on his face]

Gumball: [Embarrassed] Aw Mom, if you're seriously going to follow us around all day, do you really need to hold my hand?

[Scene changes to the cafeteria where everyone watches Nicole as she feeds Gumball]

Nicole: Who-Whooo! [Makes train noise] Come on honey, open the tunnel for the choo-choo train. Whoo-Whoooo-

Gumball: MOM, you're not helpi- [Nicole shovels the food in his mouth; Gumball pushes her away] Enough! The Tina thing was kind of helpful, but this has gone too far. [Air goes up Gumball's esophagus] Wait a minute, I've- [Nicole pats Gumball on the back and he burps] Thanks. Now seriously, I need you to stop meddling with my life!

Nicole: I'm not meddling, I'm helping.

Gumball: Helping by meddling! You're just a big meddler.

Nicole: I'm not a meddler, I'm your mother.

Darwin: And a meddler.

[Penny can be heard laughing offscreen]

Nicole: Hey, isn't that the girl you like?

Gumball: MOM NO!

Nicole: [Walks over to Penny] Excuse me Penny, have you got a second?

Penny: Sure, but you guys will need to be quick. The cheerleader tryouts are about to start.

Gumball: Mom... if you love me, please don't do this.

Nicole: Oh come on Gummypuss, don't be shy. My baby has something to say to you.

Gumball: [Laughs nervously] No, I don't.

Nicole: He'd like to take you out on a date.

Gumball: That's not true.

Nicole: [Whispers] He loves you.

Penny: [Ecstatic] Really?

Gumball: NO I DON'T. I DON'T LOVE PENNY AND I NEVER WILL!

[Penny drops her food tray in shock]

Nicole: Gumball!

Penny: [Cries] Well, thanks for being honest with me. [Walks away]

Gumball: No, wait! I meant I'll never love peanut- NO! PONIES! UH- [Crying] See what you did? You upset Penny! How am I suppose to get her back?!

Nicole: Well, you know I could help you with that.

Gumball: That's enough! Okay?! That's enough! I'm my own man now! I make my own decisions, and I don't need you babying me anymor- [Air goes up Gumball's esophagus again] anymor- [Nicole pats Gumball's back again and he burps] Thanks. Now just go home okay?

Nicole: Oh come on, we all had a great time! Didn't we Darwin?

Darwin: [Still grinning] To be honest, I've never been so embarrassed in my entire life!

Nicole: Why are you smiling then?

Darwin: Well at first I was trying not to hurt your feelings, but now I'm just stuck!

Gumball: I beg of you, just get out of my life.

Nicole: [Sad] Okay, I guess I'll just go home then.

[Scene changes to the outside of the school where Nicole sadly walks to her car. Suddenly her phone starts ringing and she picks up]

Gumball: MOM! YOU'VE GOTTA COME BACK! I MADE MY OWN DECISION! IT WAS A BAD ONE! A REALLY, REALLY, BAD ONE!

[Nicole starts running back into the school]

Bad Decisions

[Scene changes to the school hall where Darwin is massaging his face]

Darwin: Oh, thank goodness she's gone! I'll never smile again!

Nicole: Darwin!

[Darwin sees her and starts grinning again]

Darwin: Mom, you're back! Yay.

Nicole: Do you know where your brother is?

Darwin: [Points at the direction behind him] In the changing room!

Nicole: Thanks! [Starts running to the changing room]

[Darwin continues to grin in pain and tears started coming out of his eyes. Scene changes to outside the changing room where Nicole bangs at the door]

Nicole: Gumball? It's me. Open the door.

Gumball: [Screaming] NO! NO I WON'T!

Nicole: What happened?

Gumball: Oh it's awful! I made a decision on my own and it was bad! [Crying]

Nicole: Listen, whatever it is you've done, you need to come out and face it.

Gumball: Alright.. [Sobbing] Alright.. I'm coming out.

[Door opened and shows Gumball sadly walking out of the changing room in a cheerleader dress and carrying pom-poms]

Nicole: Oh, you were gonna try and get closer to Penny by joining her cheer team, but now you feel embarrassed because you have to wear a skirt.

Gumball: What? No! I'm gonna beat Penny at her own game so she'll realize how awesome and manly I am! Then she'll definitely wanna date me!

Nicole: Right. So, what's the problem?

Gumball: The problem is me! What if I'm not good as the other girls? What if they laugh at me? And this leotard makes me look fat, so I put this skirt on to hide my butt. [Lift up his skirt to show his butt]

Cheerleader Audition

[Scene changes to the school gym where the cheerleader audition is held. Penny is performing in front of Mr. Small and Principal Brown, who are the judges. They monitored her performs. Penny then balanced herself to end her performance, then shows a sad face after the judges disapproved her performance]

Penny: I know, it's just I had some emotional problems this afternoon-

Mister Small: [Shouting] YOU LEAVE YOUR EMOTIONS AT THE DOOR! THIS IS CHEER LEADING, NOT DRAMA CLUB! YOU BETTER SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT! 'CAUSE THIS IS THE BIG LEAGUE, SISTER! AND RIGHT NOW YOU'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL! [Calms down] Is there anything you'd like to add, Principal Brown?

Nigel Brown: Only that we're making cuts today, and after that performance someone's gonna have to be pretty bad enough for it to be you.

[Gumball slams open the gym door]

Gumball: Am I too late?

[The girls at the chairs start staring at him while Gumball fiercely walk towards the judges. Gumball then points to Nicole using his pom-poms and Nicole plays the music on Juke. Gumball then begins to perform. He then accidentally kicks his shoe onto Carmen. Nicole then facepalmed herself. Gumball continues to perform while his skirt starts to fall off. He then picks it up. He then starts to do The Cartwheel, but fails. He then poses again. Mr. Small then shows a drawing of a big question mark to Principal Brown. Principal Brown then shows a gesture that he's not sure what's going on. Gumball then starts jumping around, but eventually sprains his ankle]

Gumball: [In slow motion] Ow!

[Gumball then looked around and then looked at Nicole, mentally asking for support]

Gumball: [Whisper] Mom!

[Nicole gives him a thumbs up. Gumball regains his confidence and the music gets louder. Gumball performs again. This time, he made a successful Cartwheel. However, the judges and the girls are disgusted as his skirt starts to show off his butt. Nicole starts to get shocked. Gumball then ends his performance with a split. The judges stare at him]

Nigel Brown: Well, it's a no for me, Mr. Small

Mister Small: It's a no for me too.

Nigel Brown: That's two nos, Gumball. You're going home.

Gumball: [Stares at the judges for a second][Crying] NOOOO! MOM! MAKE THEM RECOUNT THE SCORE! MAKE THEM RECOUNT THE SCORE!

Nicole: Don't worry, you'll do better next time! After a couple of years intense training.

Penny: [Runs up to Gumball] Oh Gumball, thank you! It was so brave of you to sacrifice your dignity so I can get on the team! I guess that means- [Starts twisting her foot] -you do like me. Just a little?

Gumball: [Crying] Peanuts... ponies...

Nicole: I think that means yes.

[Penny smiles as Nicole carries Gumball out of the gym]

Gumball: Mom, you know when I said I wanted to be my own man and make my own decisions?

Nicole: Yes?

[Scene changes to the school hall where Darwin massages his face again. When Nicole and Gumball show up once more, he starts grinning again]

Gumball: Can it just wait for a few years?

Nicole: The longer the better, honey! Even when you're eighty you'll still be my Gummypuss!

[Camera then zooms to Darwin's grinning face. After awhile, his head explodes]